C is for Creativity

Creativity isn't just for art and music teachers. You don't need to be a professed "right brain thinker" to access your creative side. Creativity also refers to such things as problem-solving and ways we view the world. In the virtual world sense, I assert that each of you is very creative indeed. You look at what needs to be done from every angle, assess the unlimited possibilities, and then, using one or more of the many tools available, find a solution that works for yourself, your student, or the school.

Have a student or colleague who is routinely long-winded in emails and rarely makes a point? Some people think and write this way and need to just get it all out there. I find it an effective tool to reply with the previous content included, and using a different text color, drop responses into that email conversation as needed. Something as simple as a smiling emoticon will let the writer know you paid attention. You are honoring the connection, not overlooking an email, and being responsive and creative.

Students, parents, colleagues, and administrators all respond to positive outreach. This doesn't take a lengthy email, but a quick note saying why you are sending an article you recommend ("Found this article on positive parenting tips and thought it might make you smile too" or "Great read on servant leadership"), then attach and send. While I may not have time to answer all emails each day or read everything that comes across my desk, I have set up a sorting system that allows me to move attachments to a "Later Review" folder so I don't lose anything important. If information like this is coming into Gmail, save these things in a special folder in Google Drive. You can do the same in Outlook or, as an organizational tool, Microsoft One Note is great at organizing future reading material. A quotation, a quick idea, a positive take on an issue, a weblink for some new content - all of these are a quick and thoughtful way to "drop by." And whenever someone else send something to you, remember your mother's admonition: always say thank you.

 Nothing makes someone smile more than a positive remark, and nothing says it more creatively than a quick, short video. In the age of camera availability, it is a quick and happy way to deliver a thank you, thumb's up, short idea, or  just a good morning to the class while you take attendance. I guarantee people will enjoy it and it does NOT need to be polished and perfect! Think of this as the new post-it note - easy to use, colorful, and always well-received.

Not all courses or platforms utilize synchronous teaching events. Many are asynchronous. Why not schedule a synchronous session, set the time, and invite those students who are free to attend? If you are just getting to know one another, keep it short and include a Q and A. If the content might evolve into helpful teaching, make sure you record it and offer to meet again later in the course, then share the link with the whole class. If you are teaching kindergarten through 12th grade, schedule a session for the parents. Be creative. Use a game format (you can find them on Pinterest, within Microsoft PowerPoint - just do a search). And if you want to have a conversation around an idea with fellow teachers, try VoiceThread for some wonderful conversations in the Cloud.

The best part of this online world is all the endless possibilities. I rarely go a week before I hear of another set of tools I just need to explore. Simple or complex, new or trusted friend, these online tools are themselves game-changers when considering creativity.

Reflection: Often the shortest connection makes the  biggest difference. How quickly and creatively can you message "I care?"